Who did the St. Louis Cardinals lose?
Oscar Mercado, Evan Mendoza, and Colton Thomas all were sent to the Royals for Moustakas.
Oscar Mercado
The right-handed hitting outfielder was considered to be a top 20 prospect for the Cardinals going into the 2018 season. He is currently at AAA Memphis and playing primarily center field for the Redbirds. Mercado is considered to be a good defensive outfielder using his ‘plus plus’ speed. The 23-year-old has a slash line of .302/.368/.440 with six home runs and 31 RBI in 268 AB.
Mercado, a former second round pick in 2014 and originally a shortstop, seems to be destined for a top of the order hitter with his speed.
Evan Mendoza
Mendoza entered the 2018 season considered to be a Cardinal top 50 prospect. The 21-year-old infielder is a solid glove at either third or short, however he has spent 2018 at third base. The right-handed hitter was promoted from A Palm Beach to AA Springfield after hitting a torrid .349 in 37 games. Thus far in Springfield in 36 games, he has hit 13 HR and 26 RBI with a .290 BA.
Mendoza was drafted by the Cardinals in the 11th round of the June 2017 Amateur Draft. Considered aggressive at the plate, Mendoza is expected to develop into a middle of the order hitter.
Colton Thompson
The Cardinals signed the left-handed pitcher in 2016 to a free agent contract. The former New Mexico Lobo, has been gradually climbed the Cardinals minor league system and is now at AA Springfield. Used primarily as a reliever, Thompson was promoted to Springfield after posting a 1.65 ERA in nine games at A Palm Beach. Currently he has a 5.27 ERA in 21 games at Springfield.
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Thompson is considered depth insurance in the St. Louis Cardinals system and is not listed as a top prospect. Nevertheless, Thompson has thus has shown enough ability for the Cardinals to advance him from Rookie ball to AA ball over the last two years.
Let’s now look at who the St. Cardinals will get in this trade.